Academy welcomes 20 year Australian Antarctic plan

The Australian Academy of Science welcomed the release of the 20 Year Australian Antarctic Strategic Plan unveiled in Hobart today.

Earlier this year, the Academy warned that a declining scientific effort in Antarctica would weaken Australia’s strategic position and claim to territory in the region.

The Academy in particular welcomes the recommendations to:

The Academy also welcomed the commitment to replace the ageing Aurora Australis vessel with a new icebreaker—a key recommendation in the Academy’s submission.  

• maintain Australia’s stabilising role in the Antarctic treaty system
• develop Hobart as a major Antarctic gateway
• increase funding to Australian science research in Antarctica
• support greater international research collaboration in the region
• support deep-field traverse capabilities and bases.

Read the media release outlining the Academy's response